Jesus had already shown them a sign. Light had flashed into their hearts and they could see and hear the healed people. Both were signs of their promised Messiah. So He answered them with a parable, a riddle that showed that He had read the hatred in their hearts. “Destroy this temple,” He said, “and in three days I will build it again.”

The priests were offended. “It took forty-six years to build this temple, but you can rebuild it in three days?!” In their minds, this ridiculous claim convinced them that they were right to reject Him as the possible Messiah.